Making a difference to the local community while building a business that sets you free to live the life you have always wanted is a beautiful thing. With demand for dentists rising all the time in virtually every part of the UK, more and more savvy entrepreneurs and dental professionals are choosing to start new practices. With this in mind, we want to guide you through everything you need to know so that you can get off to the perfect start.

Let’s dive into the details so that you can see how it all works.

Always refer back to your business plan

Your business plan is where you look at your goals, outline your practice roadmap, and set targets so that you can meet your financial projections. In a world of instant messaging and budgeting apps, it’s all too easy to forget about the big picture. Having a business plan that has been carefully constructed and that you regularly review is essential. It will be the guiding light that ensures you’re always moving in the right direction when you make decisions. Your business plan will also be essential when you want to secure funding from banks and investors, should you need to.

Choose a convenient and eye-catching location

You want to combine good transport links and ample parking with a prominent position in the local community. If anyone driving or walking past can see that your premises are open for business and offering the latest dental treatments, you’ll find it so much easier to grow your business. By contrast, if your practice is hidden away on an industrial estate or embedded in a giant, faceless building with dozens of other businesses, it’s going to be much harder to put it in the spotlight.

Don’t be afraid of the legal side of things

Licences and approvals from the likes of the CQC may seem daunting, and there’s nothing wrong with admitting this to yourself. The problems begin, however, when you put off the legal side of things in favour of easier tasks like marketing and branding. Getting the paperwork sorted as soon as possible will give you a solid foundation on which to grow your business. Hiring a local solicitor can help you to streamline this key set of steps while also giving you the peace of mind that everything is as it should be.

Shape your practice with patients in mind

Having a waiting room that is warm and welcoming with gentle music and magazines will help even the most anxious patient settle. Add a friendly face on reception and a set of comfortable chairs, and you will be able to make a real difference to the patient’s state of mind before they walk into the treatment room. It’s these little things that really do make a world of difference when you want to grow a reputation for kind, compassionate service.

Build relationships with established suppliers

Practices run on efficiency and simply cannot afford to be chasing gaps and shortages in supplies. Connecting with a trusted national supplier who can help with everything from dental scrubs to treatment materials is essential. Teams like Kent Express have decades of combined experience and will be able to guide you through everything you need to know. Ideal when you want to be able to get everything from a single point of contact without delay.

Create a culture where everyone pulls together

A can-do attitude at every level will go a long way, especially in the early days when everyone is still finding their feet. There will always be things that need to be changed and fixed when starting and running a business, so look to hire people with positive attitudes who will be able to go with the flow. These are the types of people you will be able to rely on when a little extra effort and focus are needed.

Integrate seamless systems to stay in control

Booking appointments shouldn’t be something that changes depending on who happens to answer the phone. Having systems in place that standardise all of the basics will ensure that nothing slips through the cracks. Your patients will appreciate your consistency and reliability and think nothing of referring their friends and family. Once they do that, you’re getting free marketing.

Continually reinvest in tech and marketing

Last but not least, actively reinvest part of your profits so that you can maintain momentum. New tech means a greater range of services and better patient outcomes, while new marketing means more effective ways to attract and onboard new patients. By always looking to the future, you will be able to create a practice that grows and grows as the years go by.